New website will let customers shop online from Hartlepool retailers in one place

BuyLocalHartlepool.co.uk will allow all Hartlepool based retailers the opportunity to sell their products online in one easy to navigate online store and customers to shop from the comfort of their home.

It is being created by Bovis House business centre and The Big League CIC (community interest company) and is set to go live in November.

Dozens of businesses have signed up to it and around 200 customers have registered their interest.

The Big League has worked closely with the #LoveHartlepool campaign, Totally Locally Hartlepool network of independent businesses and Hartlepool College of Further Education in the creation of the site.

Tom Cook, Bovis House and The Big League CIC project director, said the website is designed to help Hartlepool businesses compete with other one-stop websites and boost the town’s economy.

He said: “There is an appetite for it. We want to work with businesses and consumers through the Buy Local initiative to encourage more local spending and help those smaller businesses who don’t have their own website to be able to sell online.

"This is incredibly exciting for us and could be huge for Hartlepool.”

Tom added the website will help businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

"There were already problems with the high street because of changing consumer habits,” he said.

"Covid really has established the need to change the way businesses provide their retail experience.”

Janice Auton of Totally Locally Hartlepool said the website will be a perfect way for town businesses to get their products to customers at a time when many people are mindful of leaving home.

She added: “Totally Locally Hartlepool applaud TheBigLeague CIC from Bovis House for creating in what has been such challenging times an opportunity for a community of both existing and fledgling businesses to work together collectively.

"Many of them are supporters of the Hartlepool Totally Locally group and are taking part in our upcoming Fiver Fest 10-24 October (£5 deals from your independent businesses from coffee and cake to eco goodie bags).”

Businesses and consumers can learn more and register their interest at buylocalhartlepool.co.uk

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